It's hard to believe it has been two years since our award-winning, Department of Health and Social Care funded 'MacIntyre Dementia Project' came to a close. Since then, we have continued to bring learning disabilities and dementia into the spotlight and promote the importance of a timely diagnosis for everyone.
Our work around dementia is far from over. Within MacIntyre alone, there are over 400 people who are at risk of dementia and over 60 people with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of dementia.
What have we achieved and what's next?
- In April 2020 Jane Nickels, our first Learning Disability Admiral Nurse, joined our Health, Dementia and Wellbeing Team in partnership with Dementia UK. Jane will be providing specialist advice on dementia for staff, people we support and their families
- Jane recently held a webinar for our teams on working alongside health professionals, to provide support when attending essential appointments
- Since 2016 up until the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, our MacIntyre Memory Cafes offered an essential outlet for people with dementia, their families and loved ones. The cafes also raised awareness of dementia and learning disabilities in local communities across Milton Keynes, Warrington and Chesterfield.
- Due to COVID-19, Winter 2020 will see the launch of our first pilot virtual MacIntyre Memory Cafe for people in Milton Keynes. This will allow us to continue to offer this support in a safe way
- Our Dementia Special Interest Group (DSIG) has continued to grow in strength and now is in its ninth consecutive year. We will also be trialling this as virtual event very soon
- Our Health, Dementia and Wellbeing Assistants, Rosie and Rachel are working on films about their personal experiences of dementia
Reflecting on our work Emma Killick, Adult Services Director at MacIntyre said:
"I am so pleased that we have continued to build on the amazing achievements of the MacIntyre Dementia Project. Our aspiration was always to raise awareness of this issue, in a way that ensured people with a learning disability were central to thinking and planning support for people with, or at risk of developing dementia, something we will continue to do."
Sarah Ormston, MacIntyre’s Health, Dementia and Wellbeing Manager added:
"The momentum generated and the partnerships built during the course of our Department of Health Funded '’Dementia Projec’ has meant that since the project ended, we have continued to build on our success. I am very proud that even two years on, MacIntyre continues to be seen as the sector leading organisation; sharing our knowledge, skills, passion and best practice for people with a learning disability, who have or are at risk of developing dementia, and honoured to have the UK’s first Learning Disabilities Admiral Nurse as part of my team."
